The battlefield fell silent as the last Ironfang wolves fled into the trees.
The cost had been high — more fallen, more wounded — but Silverpine stood victorious.
Elena leaned heavily against Luke, both of them bloodied and breathing hard. The claiming mark on her neck glowed with residual power from the bond, and through it she felt his exhaustion, his relief, and the overwhelming love that anchored them both.
Luke shifted back to human form first, then helped her shift. He pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly despite his own injuries.
“It’s over,” he whispered against her hair, voice rough with emotion. “Selene is gone. Ironfang is broken. We won.”
Elena clung to him, tears cutting clean tracks through the blood and dirt on her face. “We won together.”
Maya and Jace approa
